|
New
Release -- Superconductor Week does not edit or endorse the following
news release:
Probing the Universe: New Acceleration for New
Science at the Cockcroft Institute
Warrington, UK, Dec 19: The Cockcroft Institute today announces two
important milestones in its development as an international centre for research
and development (R&D) in Accelerator Science and Technology. Thus a major
enhancement of the UK's research thrust in the fundamental science of the
structure of matter and the origin of the Universe is nearly in place in
England's Northwest at the Daresbury International Science Park.
Major new appointments include the confirmation of Professor John Dainton as
Director of the Cockcroft Institute and Drs Roger Jones, Rob Appleby, and
Rebecca Seviour as the first new senior staff. Prior to this appointment,
Professor Dainton was head of the Particle Physics Group at
University
of
Liverpool
. Drs Jones, Appleby and Seviour held research positions at the Stanford Linear
Accelerator Center, at Daresbury and at
Lancaster
University
respectively.
The Cockcroft Institute is a joint venture involving the Universities of
Lancaster, Liverpool, and
Manchester
, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC), the Council for
the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC), and the Northwest
Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The NWDA is providing a purpose-built
building in the Daresbury International Science Park, and today the final stage,
the internal fit-out of the building, began on schedule ready for occupation by
Institute staff in spring 2006.
Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive, said: "The appointment of key
academics will ensure the success of Cockcroft Institute and guarantee its
position as a leading centre for Accelerator Science. I am delighted to announce
that this unique centre will be fully operational by Spring 2006. Progress to
date has resulted from a culmination of work by key partners who have secured
this project against strong competition. I have no doubt that its presence will
cement the Northwest's impressive reputation as a leading region for scientific
research and development."
The Institute is being put in place with an initial investment of about £27M.
£11M comes from core and first project funding by PPARC, CCLRC and EU, £10M
comes from NWDA, and £6M comes from the universities.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Dainton said "The Cockcroft
Institute is a unique venture involving a breadth of activity across
cutting-edge physics and engineering with a major industrial dimension. We are
well on the way to having an Institute which will place scientists and engineers
from universities, national laboratories and industry at the forefront of the
challenges which have to be solved if the next generation of particle
accelerators is to be built. It builds on the internationally recognised
excellence in fundamental physics and in engineering to be found in NW England
in the three research-led universities together with CCLRC at the Daresbury
Laboratory, and secures the continuation of this excellence for the foreseeable
future."
Professor Dainton said that he was particularly pleased with the first new
appointments. "They are all young and enthusiastic with an
international outlook and with considerable experience in both the physics and
the engineering of modern accelerator systems. Already we are finding new
synergy as they bring their expertise together and begin to build further the
research programme of the Institute."
Dr George Baxter, Head of Science and Innovation at NWDA said:" Accelerator
Science is a multi billion pound industry worldwide, with large numbers of new
facilities being designed and built. The Cockcroft Institute will put the
UK
and the Northwest at the forefront of the opportunities to commercially exploit
this huge market. Just as importantly, it will train large numbers of first rate
physicists - a discipline which is greatly valued by British industry."
The challenges of the next generation of accelerators at the beam energy and
intensity frontiers are being addressed in global collaboration. The Cockcroft
Institute's aim is to provide the intellectual focus, the educational
infrastructure, and the essential scientific and technological facilities for
Accelerator Science and Technology research and development, thereby enabling
scientists and engineers in
UK
research centres and industry to take major roles in such global accelerator
design, construction, and operation for the foreseeable future. Its initial
R&D programme is driven by the demands for the next experiments in Particle
Physics, which require major developments in acceleration to high energy with
high intensity, and with applications of the new technologies which are being
developed for other accelerator systems.
Return
to industry news releases |
